Cost of Living Comparison Between Ubud, Bali and Dharan Cost of Living Comparison Between Ubud, Bali and Dharan

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,408 per month in Ubud, Bali vs $339 in Dharan, rent included.

A couple spends around $2,585 per month in Ubud, Bali vs $554 in Dharan, rent included.

A family of three spends $3,763 per month in Ubud, Bali vs $770 in Dharan, rent included.

Ubud, Bali costs about 316% more than Dharan, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Ubud, Bali sits 5% above the global median, while Dharan is 75% below – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$3.45 Rp 62.0K

$2.12 NPR 325

62.74%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$32.34 Rp 580.1K

$18.57 NPR 2,852

74.15%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$4.84 Rp 86.9K

$6.73 NPR 1,034

-28.08%

Cappuccino

$2.75 Rp 49.3K

$1.80 NPR 277

52.78%

Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.38 Rp 24.8K

$0.33 NPR 49.99

318.18%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.75 Rp 13.5K

$0.13 NPR 20.08

476.92%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.99 Rp 53.7K

$2.55 NPR 392

17.25%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.85 Rp 69.1K

$3.57 NPR 548

7.84%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.74 Rp 31.1K

$0.71 NPR 110

145.07%

White Bread (500g)

$2.46 Rp 44.1K

$0.34 NPR 52.7

623.53%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.17 Rp 21.0K

$0.74 NPR 114

58.11%

Eggs

$2.43 Rp 43.6K

$1.56 NPR 240

55.77%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$14.50 Rp 260.2K

$7.22 NPR 1,109

100.83%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$4.35 Rp 78.0K

$3.00 NPR 460

45.00%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$11.98 Rp 214.9K

$5.04 NPR 775

137.70%

Apples (1kg)

$3.72 Rp 66.7K

$2.04 NPR 313

82.35%

Banana (1kg)

$1.63 Rp 29.2K

$0.54 NPR 82.7

201.85%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.74 Rp 49.2K

$0.64 NPR 98.5

328.13%

Tomato (1kg)

$2.24 Rp 40.2K

$0.39 NPR 59.8

474.36%

Potato (1kg)

$1.92 Rp 34.4K

$0.28 NPR 42.99

585.71%

Onion (1kg)

$2.28 Rp 40.8K

$0.53 NPR 81.7

330.19%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.06 Rp 19.1K

$0.53 NPR 81.5

100.00%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.72 Rp 12.9K

$0.23 NPR 35.03

213.04%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$3.29 Rp 58.9K

$2.85 NPR 438

15.44%

Wine (Bottle)

$23.19 Rp 416.1K

$2.92 NPR 448

694.18%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.78 Rp 49.8K

$2.25 NPR 346

23.56%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.73 Rp 49.0K

$3.19 NPR 489

-14.42%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.27 Rp 4,778

$0.23 NPR 35.25

17.39%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$8.11 Rp 145.4K

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.48 Rp 8,659

$2.12 NPR 326

-77.36%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.42 Rp 7,532

$0.77 NPR 118

-45.45%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$6.22 Rp 111.6K

$3.74 NPR 574

66.31%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.81 Rp 14.6K

$1.33 NPR 204

-39.10%

Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)

$26.6K Rp 477.4M

$32.5K NPR 5.0M

-18.20%

Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)

$32.2K Rp 577.4M

$40.7K NPR 6.2M

-20.87%

Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)

$78.4 Rp 1.4M

$26.71 NPR 4,103

193.34%

SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)

$4.07 Rp 73.0K

$4.74 NPR 729

-14.14%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$24.33 Rp 436.4K

$11.73 NPR 1,801

107.42%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$98.6 Rp 1.8M

$12.51 NPR 1,921

688.25%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$6.34 Rp 113.7K

Cinema Ticket

$3.99 Rp 71.5K

$2.90 NPR 445

37.59%

Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)

$305 Rp 5.5M

$22.20 NPR 3,410

1274.01%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$6,642 Rp 119.2M

$2,760 NPR 424.0K

140.65%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$54.1 Rp 971.2K

$12.81 NPR 1,967

322.64%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$37.81 Rp 678.2K

$27.50 NPR 4,224

37.49%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$86.8 Rp 1.6M

$29.15 NPR 4,477

197.91%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$76.4 Rp 1.4M

$32.95 NPR 5,062

131.71%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$992 Rp 17.8M

$39.61 NPR 6,085

2404.17%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$673 Rp 12.1M

$20.34 NPR 3,124

3207.42%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$3,375 Rp 60.5M

$88.6 NPR 13.6K

3707.94%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,050 Rp 36.8M

$54.2 NPR 8,322

3684.03%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,805 Rp 50.3M

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,227 Rp 39.9M

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$167 Rp 3.0M

$131 NPR 20.2K

27.25%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

13.28

12.08

9.93%

CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.

Last update for Ubud, Bali: July 11, 2026

Last update for Dharan: July 13, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $992 in Ubud, Bali versus $39.61 in Dharan. Rent is usually the largest line item in a monthly budget, so the gap here sets the tone for the overall comparison.

Salaries run about 27% higher in Ubud, Bali, which partly offsets the higher cost of living there. Purchasing power depends on which expenses matter most to you.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $32.00 in Ubud, Bali versus $19.00 in Dharan. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $297 vs $120 – making Dharan the more affordable choice for daily food spending.

City Median Internet Speeds Comparison (Updated April 2026)

The chart highlights the Precision Threshold for mobile and fixed broadband internet speeds, updated quarterly.

Digital Nomad Cost of Living Index

Ubud, Bali vs Dharan: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Ubud, Bali costs about 316% more than Dharan, with the gap driven mainly by Groceries & Markets. That's enough to noticeably affect everyday spending and lifestyle for anyone choosing between the two.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $2,112 per month in Ubud, Bali and $508 in Dharan. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Rent is clearly cheaper in Dharan, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $32.00 in Ubud, Bali and $19.00 in Dharan. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.

Groceries cost about 148% more in Ubud, Bali, though it depends on what you buy. Local produce may be comparable; imported and premium items show the biggest price gap.

A $1,000 monthly budget goes further in Dharan, where all-in costs run around $339, than in Ubud, Bali at $1,408. In Dharan it covers expenses comfortably, while in Ubud, Bali it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Dharan costs $339 versus $1,408 in Ubud, Bali. Both have workable remote work infrastructure, but the cost gap matters when income varies month to month.

Both have safer and rougher neighborhoods, but overall safety is comparable to other large cities. Neighborhood choice matters more than the city-level comparison – central, well-trafficked areas feel secure in both.

If budget matters most, go with Dharan. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Ubud, Bali makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.